Kitukiro: Jamilah shows hard work pays off

Time in the village is flying by and it’s hard to believe that we have been here in Kitukiro for 7 weeks. We are continuing to hold sensitizations and have been having a great turn out for each of our events. We have begun doing more creative, interactive events in order to keep the villagers engaged at the sensitizations. We have added a tippy tap raffle, a mosquito net raffle, and a few short dramas to our sensitizations and have received a positive response from the village. Our VHTs have continued to stay committed to the work we are doing, and we have confidence in the village of Kitukiro to continue to improve their own health and sanitation after we leave!

We recently interviewed a villager in Kitukiro named Jamilah about her experience with UVP. We selected Jamilah because she repeatedly took the initiative to attend all of our sensitizations and improve the sanitation of her home by constructing a plate stand and garbage pit. We asked Jamilah about what she had heard about UVP. She told us that she knew UVP was about improving cleanliness, helping to construct proper plate stands, and about mosquito nets. We then asked what had inspired her to come to UVP events and to take steps to improve her own household. She told us that she wanted to learn all of the things she didn’t know. During our time here, she has learned about boiling her drinking water, using the sun to kill germs on plates and utensils, and different family planning methods. She is more knowledgeable about family planning side effects, how often to wash a mosquito net, the importance of plate stands, and how long boiled water is safe to drink. We are encouraged by all that she has learned, and the steps she has taken to improve the sanitation and hygiene of her own home. We were so happy to hear that she has even educated neighbors about family planning and the importance of household sanitation facilities!        

We are thrilled to know that our work in Kitukiro has paid off. It is sometimes easy to get frustrated by language and cultural barriers, lack of resources, and the abundance of incorrect health beliefs. Speaking to people like Jamilah reminds us that the villagers are invested in UVPs efforts, and are benefiting from the time that we have spent here. We couldn’t ask to leave the village on a better note than that!

Our time here has been both challenging, and educational. We are all leaving Kitukiro more aware, rat-tolerant, appreciative, proud, and hopeful for the future. We are beyond grateful for our time and experiences here in Kitukiro, Uganda, and UVP will always hold a special place in our hearts.

It’s been a great summer, y’all!

Sincerely,                              

Kitukiro Killer Whales